Progress is more than just technology–it’s about putting people first. According to McKinsey, by 2050, 68% of the world’s population will live in cities. This fast-approaching influx of people calls for a reassessment of city planning approaches. While urban growth opens up opportunities, it also places a greater demand on public services and urban landscapes. And with climate change hot on our heels, building resilient infrastructure has become more critical than ever.
At Dassault Systèmes, we believe the Only Progress is Human. And for progress to happen, we need to start by creating environments that foster growth and wellbeing. This calls for a re-imagination of manufacturing, transportation and infrastructure approaches for greater accessibility and sustainability. Smarter public transit solutions can reduce congestion and make commuting more reliable, while advancements in manufacturing will drive greater technological capabilities and cleaner production. Autonomous supply chains open the door to a more connected global world, adapting fulfillment strategies to modern needs.
Whether enabling more efficient urban travel or designing urban structures to protect against natural disasters, here are 10 companies pushing the envelope in their industries, revolutionizing the way we build for changing urban needs.
Dronamics
What if a package could be delivered straight to your doorstep within 24 hours of clicking “buy” even if you lived in a hard-to-reach location? Bulgarian company Dronamics is making that possible with its launch of the world’s first cargo drone airline. The company’s autonomous cargo plane enables more cost-effective, sustainable, and quicker air freight. See how they are using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud to assemble complex drone parts in one integrated process.
Otto Aviation
Do you dread the inevitable turbulence of plane travel? A Californian-based startup has a solution for that. Otto Aviation is behind the world’s first aircraft unhindered by turbulence thanks to its aerodynamic design that allows it to cut through air like butter. Because friction has nothing on its planes, their aircrafts drink 60% less fuel than conventional planes, making them the cost and fuel efficient way to fly. Smooth flights require smooth solutions though. Discover how Otto leverages the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud to innovate boldly.
ISC
Have you seen trending videos of offshore substations on TikTok and wondered who are the bright minds behind these impressive structures? Well, there’s a high chance it’s Danish consulting and engineering firm ISC. Powering more than 1.4 million homes in the UK with clean electricity, the wind farm Hornsea Two is just one of ISC’s many impressive projects that require high-precision assembly. Discover how ISC integrates 30 years’ worth of legacy data with new solutions via the 3DEXPERIENCE platform here.
CNBM Triumph Robotics
Imagine rows of robotic arms producing solar panels within a matter of seconds. That’s possible for Shanghai-based CNBM Triumph Robotics. Featuring the city’s first building made out of solar panel walls, their research and development (R&D) facility in the Songjiang district truly is a factory of the future in every sense of the word. Their solar-clad facade generates an average of 230,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. Impressive we know. To power their operations, CNBM Triumph Robotics’ team collaborates on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, achieving the precision required to manufacture the panels that dress their factory.
PIVETEAUBOIS
What if buildings could be constructed out of a renewable resource like wood instead of concrete and steel? French-based manufacturer PIVETEAUBOIS Group is turning that possibility into reality. They produce cross-laminated timber (CLT), a wood material that is just as strong as concrete, only more sustainable! Maximizing value out of each tree used, PIVETEAUBOIS incorporates bark and offcuts into their manufacturing process, decreasing raw material wastage. To scale these sustainable products, PIVETEAUBOIS centralizes its operations on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud, empowering them on their mission to build greener urban structures.
Assembly OSM
When one thinks of New York City, the image that likely comes to mind is a skyline dotted with imposing sky-scrapers. With its heavy traffic and unique layout specifications, building in the city that never sleeps would cause builders unused to such level of complexity to lose sleep. Not NYC-based Assembly OSM though. Redefining construction inspired by the aerospace industry, Assembly OSM pieces together the many moving parts in construction with incredible accuracy, cutting down project timelines by half. Their secret sauce? Designing on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud, allowing for infinite combinations and full operational visibility.
Joby Aviation
Imagine booking a flight the same way you would an Uber: with a simple button click on your phone. US-based startup Joby Aviation is on a mission to make that a reality. Their all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) air taxi cuts down commutes that would have taken 45 minutes by car to just 10. Except for having less time to admire the scenic sky views, quicker travel by air offers commuters every benefit they could dream of. Discover how Joby Aviation is unlocking the future of urban transport by leveraging the 3DEXPERIENCE platform as a collaborative environment here.
XSun
From forest fire monitoring to air pollutant tracking, drones can be used in countless ways to collect data and safeguard human life. The only drawback? Battery life. As the demand for drone usage grows, French start-up XSun is looking to meet that need with the SolarXOne, their second generation of autonomous solar powered drone. Harnessing the power of the sun, the SolarXOne will be able to carry out missions continuously for 12 hours with no carbon emissions. Collaborating on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud to answer “what if?”, XSun’s team is now working towards extending the SolarXOne’s flight endurance to a whopping 20 hours.
NExT
What if adjusting public transit vehicles according to need could be as easy as snapping together LEGO bricks? Powered by Dassault Systèmes’ cloud-based solutions, Italian startup NExT is engineering electric modular vehicles to do just that. NExT’s modular vehicles dynamically connect to create capacity for peak periods, and pare down to smaller configurations during low-traffic hours. The result? Smart vehicle pods that consume 60% less electricity than standard electric buses. NExT reimagines the future of public transport on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud, piecing together components to design a smarter way for people to commute.
Pacific Consultants
With a population of 128.5 million to protect on a geographical location that is especially vulnerable to natural disasters, civil engineering in Japan is more than just building structures. It’s about protecting lives. Keeping the country’s unique topography and climate in mind, Japanese civil engineering firm Pacific Consultants designs critical infrastructures such as check dams to guard against landslides. Harnessing the power of virtual twins, their experts design parametric models on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud collaboratively, using centralized data about each locations’ unique needs to create infrastructures that will protect the lives and futures of citizens who rely on them.
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